Pioneering dynamic AgriVoltaics in viticulture: enhancing grapevine productivity, wine quality and climate protection through agronomical steering in a large-scale field study

Abstract

Context and purpose of the study. Climate change threatens traditional winegrowing regions, with about 90% of areas like southern France at risk by the end of the century due to heatwaves and droughts. To adapt, wine producers must adjust grape varieties, rootstocks, training systems, and vineyard protection. Agrivoltaic systems, which provide shading for vines, offer a potential solution, but permanent shading can reduce berry development and yield. Sun’Agri, in collaboration with INRAE and CA66, developed a dynamic agrivoltaic system with adjustable photovoltaic panels and optimized shading based on the vines’ needs, balancing climate protection and productivity. Deployed in southern France, this system has been studied for six years to address both climate protection, productivity and quality challenges.

Material and Methods. In 2018, Marselan, Chardonnay and Grenache Blanc grapevines were planted manually under the dynamic agrivoltaic (DAV) system in Tresserre (South of France). The system covered 4.5 hectares, adjacent to a 3-hectare control field planted mechanically. DAV was divided into two areas to test two shading strategies: full solar tracking and agronomic steering based on plant needs. From 2018 to 2024, microclimate, vigor, phenology, yield components, and berry and wine quality were monitored. Since 2022, shading management has been optimized using a grapevine crop model. In 2022, soil pits were carried out to assess root development under different treatments.

Results. In the first harvest of 2022, yields were lower in the DAV area due to manual planting and soil compaction resulting in a plant vigor decrease. In 2023, a drought year, agronomic steering under DAV provided significant climatic protection and outperformed the control with yields up to +45%. In 2024, another drought year, yields continued to exceed the control by 61% for Chardonnay, 31% for Grenache Blanc and 18% for Marselan. In contrast, the solar tracking area, designed for maximum electricity production, resulted in a yield loss up to 45% compared to the control for both last years. The DAV with agronomical steering also improved berry quality and sensory profile of the wine. As demonstrated by the differences observed in yield and quality, the optimization of shading with agronomic steering policies seems to be a necessity to adapt grapevines to climate change challenges while maintaining vineyard productivity.